Graduation cap



March 3, 1953 r. LA MAIDA, 2,629,874

GRADUATION my Filed bot. 11, 1959- @tta/'nefs Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNETED S'i'A'i'ES PAThNT OFF-CE GRADUATION CAI Thomas La Maida, University Heights, Ohio Application Octoher'll, 1950, Serial No. 189,552

(Cl. A.Q -176) Claims.

This invention is for an improvement in a graduation cap commonly known as a mortar board.

As is wel] known, this style of cap is usually worn only once or twice or only a very few times by the average person; and, in View of this fact, the average cost oi such a cap is comparatively high. This is especially true in the case of such a cap of light color that will show soil. For instance, certain cosmetics are very noticeable upon a white graduation cap; in fact, it may be Vpractically ruined and the seriousness of this situation may be most fully realized by those who are engaged in the business of renting graduation caps. In any event, a graduation cap of light color has been found to be an expensive article of wearing apparel.

Therefore, with this situation in mind, the object of my present invention is to devise a simply constructed graduation cap that may be sold at a comparatively low price.

A further object of my invention is to devise such an inexpensive graduation cap that can be made in any desired color and that may be formed and decorated in -any suitable manner so as to present a neat iit and attractive appearance and will prove altogether satisfactory from the standpoints of service and durability for the purpose intended.

A still further object of my present invention is to devise such a cap that may be constructed in such manner as to provide eiiective and yet unnoticeable means of ventilation as a part of such construction.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l illustrates the blank form in which the side or body part of the crown of my improved graduation cap may bemade;

Fig. 2 illustrates the top part of the crown of my graduation cap, having attached thereto an oval-shaped part so as to provide means of attachment for the side or body part of the crown to the top part thereof;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the complete assembly of my improved graduation cap which includes the parts illustrated in Figs. l and 2 hereof;

Fig. 4 is a View taken on line liof Fig. 3 and illustrates the manner in 'which this cap isintended to be worn; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of part of Fig, 4. to indicate the space 2c which is adapted to 'receive the tongues l of the body part 3.

It is to be understood that the present form Aoi i?. disclosure is merely for thepurpose of illustration and that there might be devised. various modifications 'thereof without departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth and cl-aimed.

My present improved graduation cap comprises only three main parts and they may all be stamped out of a proper grade o1 card board or other suitable material of the desired color and with any other appropriate decoration. The substantially rigid square top part I of the crown has secured to the under-side, in the middle thereof. the oval-shaped part 2 which has its marginal portion 2a free entirely thereabout so'as to provide a space or groove 2c between the same and the top part I. For instance, part 2 may be secured to the top part I by means of a series oi wire staples 2b applied at points spaced inward- 'ly about one inch or so from the edge of the ovalshaped part 2, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the present drawing.

The other part 3, which may be identiiied as the side or body of the crown of my improved graduation cap, is made of a one-piece strip of suitable form to rit about the head of the user when these parts are in full assembly. That is to say, this blank form, indicated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, is wider at its two ends than at the middle thereof and has its one edge given the form similar to that of the familiar brace or bracket which is pointed in the middle thereof, this being the lower edge of the body part 3 of the cap when in completed form, as will be seen from Fig. 4 of the drawing. The body part 3 has its other edge provided with tapered tongues fi of substantial length so as to be engageable in the groove 2c between the ovalshaped part 2 and the top part I, in the manner indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 hereof. As the curve along the one edge of the part 3 is of symmetrical form, so also are the tongues E provided and arranged in a symmetrical manner with respect to the middle of the body part 3 so as to permit the 'assembly of the several parts in the symmetrical manner indicated in Fig. 3 of the present drawing. The blank body part 3 will be made of a bendable material so as to permit the same to assume the intended shape for iitting about the head of the user in a snug and comfortable manner and also to permit 'the tongues to ervtend practically parallel between the parts I and 2 while the main part of the body member 3 may extend at an outwardly diverging angle to the top part i when the parts .are in complete assembly. as clearly indicated inFig. 4.

By virtue of the .particular formof the body part 3, as above described and as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing hereof, it is possible for my completed cap to have the appearance of the familiar graduation cap, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. As above indicated, the blank form of the body part 3 shown in Fig. l may be recognized as being, in the main, of duplicate formation upon the two sides of an imaginary middle line across the same, so as to engage and fit symmetrically about the opposite sides of the users head when the cap has been completely assembled. In assembling the part 3 upon the other parts I and 2, the tongues 4 will be bent and inserted into the groove 2c provided between the parts I and 2, as above explained, in such manner as to bring the imaginary middle line of the body part 3 at the front end of the oval-shaped part 2. Then, as the tongues 4 are so inserted into position, the body part 3 Will be bent about the oval-shaped part 2 so as to bring the two ends thereof together at the rear end of the oval-shaped part 2. Then the rear ends of the body part 3 may be secured together in any suitable manner, as for instance the bendable metal ears 5 which are anchored to one end of the body part 3 and which are adapted to be engaged into one set of apertures or slots 6, according to the size desired for the cap. There may be provided any number of sets of such apertures, there being three such sets shown in Fig. 1 of the present illustration. The cap is then in fully assembled condition and is ready for use. By virtue of the nature of the material, as referred to in column 2 hereof, and the extension of the tongues 4 into the space between the parts I and 2 so as to have engagement therebetween, the band 3 will maintain its assembled position.

By making the groove A2c of suiiicient depth between the parts I and 2 and by making the tongues 4 of proper relative length, the part t may be adjusted for the desired size of cap by inserting the tongues 4 more or less into their groove, and these parts will hold such assembled position for any one of the several sizes provided for by this arrangement.

It will be observed that as the body part 3 is applied to the other parts I and 2 as herein explained, the tapered tongues 4 will be closed partially towards each other but without any interference between the same and without any buckling of the material of the body part 3. Also, 1' have formed the notches or spaces between the tongues 4 with enlarged curved bottoms 4a so that, when these tongues are in fully assembled and adjusted position for any desired size of the cap, the bottoms 4a of these notches will extend beyond the edge of the oval-shaped part 2 so as to aord openings entirely about the cap. These openings will not only permit ventilation but will also tend to prevent the cap from being blown oil of the head of the wearer since air may pass through these openings, thereby rendering the force of the air less troublesome. Also, as the cap is applied to the head of the wearer, these holes will permit escape of the air within the cap and, in this way, there is produced a still greater security of the cap upon the head of the wearer.

Thus I have devised a graduation cap that can be manufactured in a simple and inexpensive manner so as to be capable of being sold at a comparatively low price, that may be provided with any suitable or desired color and form of decoration, that is capable of presenting an impressive appearance while .serving its intended purpose in a most eicient manner. Furthermore, the body part 3 and the combined top and oval-shaped parts I and 2 may be shipped through the mail in flat disassembled form and the purchaser may readily assemble these parts in the manner above explained. In order to facilitate still further the handling of these parts in mail-order shipments, the separate body partl 3 may be folded in the middle so as to occupy less space. This is calculated to prove a great convenience and also a means of greatly increased distribution in the marketing of this device. Also, this same expedient may be utilized in carrying this cap in the traveling bag.

Other practical advantages resulting from my present invention will no doubt suggest themselves to those who are familiar with the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. A graduation cap comprising a flat top part having an oval-shaped part attached to the middle portion of the under-side thereof and with the marginal portion of said oval-shaped part spaced therefrom entirely thereabout, and a separate downwardly extending body part in the form of a band having two ends and having its upper edge provided with means of engagement extending inwardly therefrom into the space between said top and oval-shaped parts so as to be adjustably engaged between said top and ovalshaped parts according to the size of the head and having detachable and adjustable connecting means between the said two ends of said band, said two ends of said band being adapted to be connected according to the size at which said body part may be set.

2. A graduation cap comprising a flat top part having an oval-shaped part attached to the middle portion of the under-side thereof and with the marginal portion of said oval-shaped part spaced therefrom, and a downwardly extending body part in the form of a band having two ends and having spaced ngers extending inwardly from its upper edge into the space between said top and oval-shaped parts so as to be adjustably engaged between said top and oval-shaped parts according to the size of the head and having detachable and adjustable connecting means between the said two ends of said band, said two ends being adapted to be connected according to the size at which said body part may be set.

3. A graduation cap comprising a, at top part having an oval-shaped part attached to the middle portion of the under-side of said top part and with the marginal portion of said oval-shaped part spaced therefrom, and a body part in the form of a band having two ends and having laterally disposed spaced fingers extending inwardly from its upper edge into the space between said top and oval-shaped parts so as to be adjustably engaged between said top and oval-shaped parts according to the size of the head and having detachable and adjustable connecting means between the said two ends of said band, said ends being adapted to be connected according to the size for which said body part is set, the spaces between the base portions of said fingers being of sumcient width and depth to extend beyond the edge of said oval-shaped part so as to provide openings along the marginal portion of said body part adjacent said oval-shaped part.

4. A graduation cap comprising a flat top part having an oval-shaped part attached to the middle portion of the under-side of said top part and withthe marginal portions of said oval-shaped part spaced therefrom, and a separate downwardly extending body part in the form of a onepiece curved band of bendable sheet material having two ends and having integral radially inwardly extending fingers along the upper edge thereof, said fingers extending into the space between said top part and oval-shaped part so as to be adjustably engaged between said top and oval-shaped parts according to the size of the head, said band having detachable and adjustable connecting means between the said two ends for the head-engaging adjustment, the adjacent edges of said ngers diverging from each other and being spaced suflciently from each other and the spaces between adjacent ngers being suflciently deep to extend beyond the edge of said oval-shaped part so as to afford ventilation openings through said band adjacent said ovalshaped part and below said flat top part.

5. A graduation cap comprising a at top part, means provided upon the under-side of said at top part and spaced therefrom for receiving a head-engaging portion of the cap, the head-engaging portion comprising a separate body in the form of a downwardly extending band having means at the upper edge thereof extending inwardly into the space between said top part and said first-named means for releasable and adjustable engagement between said flat top part and said rst-named means according to the size of the head, said band having two ends provided with detachable and adjustable means thereupon for connecting the same together so as to assume annular form for engagement with different sizes of heads and for maintaining said inwardly extending means in releasable engagement within the space between said flat top part and said rst-named means.

THOMAS LA MAIDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,614,231 Cosgrove Jan. 11, 1927 1,745,184 Myers Jan. 28, 1930 1,934,114 Brander Nov. 7, 1933 2,153,146 Holmes Apr. 4, 1939 

